In observance of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment successfully executed a Self Defense Training Initiative. Held on October 28, 2025, the initiative aimed at empowering participants and strengthening community resilience.
Co-ordinated by the Community Services Unit, the activity provided participants with practical physical safety skills, emphasizing situational awareness, boundary setting, and techniques for evasion and self-protection.
Social Transformation Officer, Shalina Mann-Eleuthere, emphasized the importance of self efficacy in combating violence. “For too long, the narrative around domestic violence focused solely on victims seeking assistance after the fact. While support services remain paramount, we must also invest in prevention and individual empowerment. This self defense initiative was about practical, immediate, and personal transformation.” she noted.
She further indicated that, “the overwhelming positive feedback and high rate of participant recommendation confirm the success of the initiative and as a result, given the strong community demand, the Ministry is not only eagerly committing to hosting future sessions but also looks forward to expanding and enhancing the initiative to reach more citizens with bigger and better activities.”
Also speaking on the initiative was Gender Affairs Officer, Bynta Ernest who stated her enthusiasm about participating in the event. “It was a great initiative developed and organised by the Ministry of Equity which goes beyond physical defense but also focused on challenging and transforming the harmful gendered norms that sustain gender-based violence in our society. This event was more than a training session; it was a dynamic space for dialogue, learning, and empowerment. I especially loved how participants, notably the young men and women from the Entrepot Secondary School, were engaged in open discussion by the instructor exploring how they can advocate against domestic violence, support one another in times of need, and become agents of positive change within their respective communities.”
The training was conducted by Retired Police Inspector Alex Morgan, whose profound experience was instrumental in its delivery. The training provided specialized, scenario based instruction, detailing high-risk methods such as disarming perpetrators wielding weapons (i.e. guns or knives). It also included specific techniques for applying pressure to vulnerable points and anatomical areas to break a perpetrators’ grasp, while simultaneously emphasizing the critical role of de-escalation strategies in conflict minimization.
The Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, and Empowerment remains committed to the empowerment of communities and will continue to build resilience and foster a culture of respect, equality, and zero tolerance for domestic and gender based violence.
The Ministry extends its gratitude to Retired Police Inspector Alex Morgan, whose specialized instruction was instrumental, along with all participants, agencies, and sponsors for making this an impactful observance.
